Liouvillian exceptional-point-induced phase transition in a single Kerr-cat qubit
Abstract
Exceptional points in non-Hermitian quantum systems give rise to genuine quantum phenomena. Recent explorations of exceptional-point-induced phase transitions have extended from discrete-variable to continuous-variable-encoded quantum systems. However, phase transitions driven by Liouvillian exceptional points (LEPs) in continuous-variable platforms remain largely unexplored. Here, we construct and investigate a Liouvillian exceptional structure based on a driven-dissipative Kerr-cat qubit. Through numerical simulations, we numerically reveal a non-Hermitian phase transition occurring at the LEP characterized by a sudden change in dynamical behavior from underdamped oscillations to overdamped relaxations as visualized via Wigner functions and Bloch sphere trajectories. The dynamical pattern of Wigner interference fringes provides a phase-space signature of the LEP-induced phase transition, while Wigner negativity certifies the genuine quantum nonclassicality of the system. Our results establish the Kerr-cat qubit as a continuous-variable setting for exploring dissipative quantum criticality and intrinsic non-Hermitian physics.
Related
- Transition of Photonic Dissipative Dynamics through the Exceptional Point
- Optimal quantum discrimination at Liouvillian exceptional points
- Liouvillian exceptional points in the emergence of quantum synchronization
- Two Exceptional-Point Regimes in the Spinterface Model of Chirality-Induced Spin Selectivity
- Absorbing exceptional point of coherent vortex beams
BibTeX
@article{han2026liouvillian,
title = {{Liouvillian exceptional-point-induced phase transition in a single Kerr-cat qubit}},
author = {Pei-Rong Han and Tian-Le Yang and Wen Ning and Hao-Long Zhang and Huifang Kang and Huiye Qiu and Zhen-Biao Yang},
journal = {Communications Physics},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s42005-026-02919-7},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s42005-026-02919-7},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Liouvillian exceptional-point-induced phase transition in a single Kerr-cat qubit
AU - Pei-Rong Han
AU - Tian-Le Yang
AU - Wen Ning
AU - Hao-Long Zhang
AU - Huifang Kang
AU - Huiye Qiu
AU - Zhen-Biao Yang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Communications Physics
DO - 10.1038/s42005-026-02919-7
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s42005-026-02919-7
AB - Exceptional points in non-Hermitian quantum systems give rise to genuine quantum phenomena. Recent explorations of exceptional-point-induced phase transitions have extended from discrete-variable to continuous-variable-encoded quantum systems. However, phase transitions driven by Liouvillian exceptional points (LEPs) in continuous-variable platforms remain largely unexplored. Here, we construct and investigate a Liouvillian exceptional structure based on a driven-dissipative Kerr-cat qubit. Through numerical simulations, we numerically reveal a non-Hermitian phase transition occurring at the LEP characterized by a sudden change in dynamical behavior from underdamped oscillations to overdamped relaxations as visualized via Wigner functions and Bloch sphere trajectories. The dynamical pattern of Wigner interference fringes provides a phase-space signature of the LEP-induced phase transition, while Wigner negativity certifies the genuine quantum nonclassicality of the system. Our results establish the Kerr-cat qubit as a continuous-variable setting for exploring dissipative quantum criticality and intrinsic non-Hermitian physics.
SN - 2399-3650
ER -